Bowling ball return mechanism



April 1961 A. J. ALBRECHT ETAL 2,979,333

BOWLING BALL RETURN MECHANISM Filed Dec. 18, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Wm A j, M 6 gr ra /g5 April 11, 1961 A. J. ALBRECHT ET AL 2,979,333

BOWLING BALL RETURN MECHANISM 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 18, 1958 In r/erz 541's file ander'ifllrecfii April 11, 1961 A. J. ALBRECHT ETAL 2,979,333

BOWLING BALL RETURN MECHANISM Filed Dec. 18, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 j 1/rziar5 United States Patent BOWLING BALL RETURN MECHANISM Alexander J. Albrecht, West Englewood, NJ and Frank E. Riedl, New Rochelle, N.Y., assignors to The Brunswick Automatic Pinsetter Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Filed Dec. 18, 1958, Ser. No. 781,370

9 Claims. (Cl. 273-49) This invention relates to a bowling mechanism, and more particularly to a ball return for removing a bowling ball from the pit of an alley.

An object of this invention is to provide new and improved bowling ball return mechanism for separating a ball from pins on the pit conveyor.

Another object of this invention is to provide a bowling mechanism comprising a pit conveyor for directing pins to a pin elevator, an opening in said conveyor, and means blocking said opening and movable to unblock said opening whereby a ball may pass through the opening onto a track for return to the players end of an alley.

Another object of the invention is to provide a bowling mechanism comprising, an elevator, a vibrating pit conveyor having a central area sloping downwardly toward the pin elevator, an opening in the pit conveyor in said central area of a size to permit passage of a ball therethrough, a pit cushion overlying the pit conveyor and spaced therefrom a distance sufficient to permit passage of pins "thereunder while blocking the passage of a ball, said pit cushion being located to the pin elevator side of said opening and positioned to locate a ball above the opening, movable means for blocking said opening against passage of pins therethrough, and means yieldably mounting said movable means whereby the weight of a ball moves the blocking means to lower a ball through the opening.

Further objects and advantages will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic plan view of the pit end of a bowling alley;

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic side elevational view of the pit end of an alley with the near kick-back removed;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section on an enlarged scale taken generally along the line 3-3 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 and showing the opening blocking members in a fully open position in broken line, and an intermediate position of certain block ing members in full line;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the opening blocking mechanism with the remainder of the pit conveyor omitted and a fragmentary showing of the mounting plate for the mechanism; and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view on an enlarged scale of mechanism shown in Fig. 5 with parts broken away.

many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail an embodiment of the invention with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the embodiment illustrated. The scope of the invention will be pointed out in the appended claims.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, the bowling alley has the conventional alley bed 10. The end of the alley bed along with spaced apart kick-backs 11 and 2,979,333 Patented Apr. 1 1 1961 "ice 12 define three sides of a pit area with a pin elevating member in the form of a rotatable wheel 13 forming the fourth side of the pit area. I

'A generally horizontal pit conveyor 14 in the form of a vibrating pit board is disposed within the pit area of a size to be substantially coextensive therewith and has sides 15 and 15a with a central area *16 approximately midway between the sides which slopes downwardly toward the pin elevator 13 whereby pins on the vibrating pit conveyor will be led to the entrance of the pin elevator 13. v

The mechanism for vibrating the pit conveyor is disclosed in an application of William F. Huck and Alexander J. Albrecht, Serial No. 534,726, filed September 16, 1955, to which reference may be made for a complete disclosure of such mechanism. Briefly, this mechanismcomprises straps 20 and 21 at each side of the pit board 14 which are mounted to a base and to the pit board by rubber washers so as to permit vibrating movement of the pit board. The pit board is vibrated by a drive motor 22 having a drive belt 23 for driving a shaft 24 through engagement with a pulley 25. The shaft 24 carries eccentric end portions 25a and 25b at opposite ends thereof, with each of the eccentric ends engageable in a strap 26 each of which engages a bracket 27 fastened to the pit board. As the shaft 24 is rotated by the motor 22, oscillatory motion is given to the pit board 14 through the eccentric and strap connections as permitted by the While this invention is susceptible of embodiments inyieldable mounting of the pit board.

The central area 16 of the pit conveyor has an opening 30 of a size to permit the passage of a bowling ball therethrough. A pit cushion 31 overlies the pit conveyor and is spaced therefrom a distance sufficient to permit the passage of pins thereunder in their travel to the pin elevator 13, but is sufliciently close to the pit conveyor to block the passage of a ball B. The pit cushion 31 is located to the pin elevator side of the opening 30 in a position to locate a bowling ball above the opening 30.

Means are provided to yieldably block the opening 30 and responsive to the weight of a ball to unblock the opening whereby a ball may pass therethrough. This means is constructed to not permit the entry of a pin into the opening. This means comprises a frame 35 mounted above the pit floor and below the vibrating pit conveyor to support mechanism hereinafter described. The frame 35 mounts three door sections or blocking members 36, 37 and 38 having a position to block the opening 30 to prevent the passage of a pin or ball therethrough. As shown in Fig. 1, the three sections are spaced from the wall of the opening 30 a distance sufiicient to permit oscillation of the vibrating pit conveyor With out interference from the blocking members. a p

The frame 35 also supports a ball guide track 40 having an entry end for a ball disposed beneath the pit conveyor opening 30 whereby a ball passing through the opening 30 will move onto the guide track '40 for return to the players end ofan alley. V a

As shown in Figs. 1 and 3, :the opening blocking members 36, 37 and 38 have positions in the opening 30 in which they lie closely adjacent to each other with members 36 and 37 disposed side-by-side and have a second position as shown in Fig. 4 in broken line, in whichthe blocking members are spaced apart a distance sufficient to pass a ball therethrough for entry thereof onto the return guide 40. The members are spaced apart this distance when they are positioned beneath the opening 30 in the pit conveyor 14.

\ Means for mounting the blocking member 38 is shown particularly in Figs. 3, 4, and 5 and comprises a pair of arms 41 and 42 positioned at opposite, sides of the guide track 40 and fastened to the blocking member'38. Each of these arms is mounted for pivotal movement between the positions shown in Figs. 3 and 4 by brackets 43 and I 44 respectively fastened to the frame beneath and to the side of the opening 30 adjacent blocking members 36 and 37 and each carrying bearings rotatably mounting the arms 41 and 42. Means for yieldably urging the blocking member 38 to its raised position in the ball opening 30 comprises a pair of weights 45 and 46 associated one with each of the arms 41 and 42, respectively. Each of these weights carries a bumper 47 engageable with the frame 35 when the blocking member 38 is in its raised position in the opening 30 to determine this position.

The blocking members 36 and 37 are disposed in sideby-side relation when in raised position in the ball opening 30, and a housing 50 pivotally carries a pair of arms 51 and 52 supporting the blocking members 36 and 37, respectively. The housing 50 is also pivotally mounted whereby pivotal movement of the housing 50 results in initially lowering the blocking members 36 and 37 to an intermediate position as shown in full line in Fig. 4, and continued pivotal movement of the housing 50 results in the arms 51 and 52 pivoting in directions away from each other to move the blocking members 36 and 37 away from each other.

More specifically, the housing 50 is pivotally mounted on a stationary shaft 53. The shaft 53 is supported from the frame 35 by spaced brackets 54 attached to the frame 35 beneath and to the side of opening 30 adjacent blocking member 38. Each of the brackets 54 carries shock absorbing bushings 55 mounting the shaft 53. The housing 50 has a pair of arms 56 and 57 alternately engageable with bumpers 58 and 59 carried on the frame 35 whereby to limit the pivotal movement in both directions of the housing 50.

The blocking member support arms 51 and 52 are pivotally mounted in the housing 50 by a pair of inclined shafts 60 and 61 associated one with each of the arms 51 and 52, respectively. The mounting of each of the shafts 60 and 61 is similar, and reference will be made to the mounting of shaft 61 as shown in Fig. 3. The shaft is mounted in bifurcated ends 62 and 63 of the support arm 52 by shock absorbing bushings 64 and 65, and the shaft is rotatable in an ear 66 of the housing 50 by bearings 67 and 68.

As shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the blocking member support arms 51 and 52 are urged toward each other by a spring 70 connected therebetween, and this movement is limited by a pair of bumpers 71 mounted one on each of the arms 51 and 52.

In order to spread the arms 51 and 52 away from each other against the action of the spring 70 to result in spacing apart the blocking members 36 and 37, a pair of cam projections 72 and 73 are formed on the frame 35 for selective engagement by a pair of rollers 74 and 75 mounted one on each of the arms 51 and 52, respectively. These rollers 74 and 75 are mounted for rotation about mounting screws 75a and 76 and their center of rotation is spaced from their respective arm pivot shafts 60 and 61. Pivotal movement of the housing 50 in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 3, will bring the rollers 74 and 75 into engagement with the cams 72 and 73. The continued pivotal movement of the housing 50 in the same direction will cause the arms 51 and 52 to move apart because of the engagement of the rollers 74 and 75 with their cams and the continued pivotal movement of the housing 50.

The housing arm 57 has the proper weight to constitute means for yieldably urging the arms 51 and 52 to their upper position to position the blocking members 36 and 37 in the ball opening 30.

In operation of the mechanism, a ball and pins enter the pit and are directed to the central area 16 of the vibrating pit conveyor 14. The blocking members 36, 37 and 38 are of a size to receive at least one bowling pin thereon and substantially only one whereby the weights 45, 46 and 57 maintain the blocking members in blocking position when a pin rests thereon. A ball, when located on the blocking members, by the shape of the pit conveyor 14 and the location of the pit cushion 31 has a substantially greater weight than a pin whereby the weights 45, 46 and 57 are overcome to lower the blocking members 36, 37 and 38. The movement of the blocking members 36 and 37 may be termed a compound movement wherein the initial movement to the full line position in Fig. 4 results from the pivotal movement of the housing 59. The continued movement of the blocking members 36 and 37 to a lower position results in spreading these members apart due to continued pivotal movement of the housing 50 and the camming action of the cams 72 and 73 against the rollers 74 and 75 carried on the mounting arms 51 and 52. The final position is shown in broken line in Fig. 4. The weight of a ball is sufficient to not only move the arms 51 and 52 against the force of the weight 57, but also against the force of the spring 70. A ball may then pass between the blocking members 36, 37 and 38, and onto the ball guide track 40. As the major diameter of a ball passes beneath the blocking members 36, 37 and 38, they may move to their blocking positions and in doing so follow the upper contour of the ball, thereby ejecting any pin which may have inadvertently fallen into the vicinity of the opening. Any existing opening between the blocking members 36, 37 and 38 lies beneath the spherical surface of a bowling ball; therefore a pin cannot at any time enter between these members.

We claim:

1. A bowling mechanism comprising, a pin elevator, a vibrating pit conveyor having a central area lower than the adjacent sections to the sides thereof, said central area also sloping downwardly toward the pin elevator, an opening in the pit conveyor in said central area of a size to permit passage of a ball therethrough, a pit cushion overlying the pit conveyor and spaced therefrom a distance sufficient to permit passage of pins thereunder while blocking the passage of a ball, said pit cushion being located to the pin elevator side of said opening in a position to locate a ball above said opening, and means yieldably blocking said opening and responsive to the weight of a ball but not of a pin to unblock said opening whereby a ball may pass through the opening to a return track or the like comprising, a frame mounted beneath the pit.conveyor, three blocking members having a first position to lie adjacent each other and block the opening, a pair of arms each supporting one of the block ing members in side-by-side relation, a housing pivotally mounting said arms for movement toward and away from each other, means pivotally mounting the housing on the frame to carry the arms toward and away from the opening, means for moving the arms away from each other as the arms move away from the opening, means mounting the third blocking member for movement away from the opening and the other members to have all three members spaced apart to pass a ball therethrough when disposed beneath the opening, means urging the blocking members to their closely adjacent positions and respon sive to the weight of a ball to permit the members to move away from each other.

2. A bowling mechanism comprising, a generally horizontal pit conveyor for directing pins to a pin elevator, an opening in said conveyor of a size to permit a ball to drop therethrough for movement away from the conveyor, and means yieldably blocking said opening and responsive to the weight of a ball but not of a pin to unblock said opening whereby a ball may pass through the opening comprising, a frame mounted beneath the pit conveyor, three blocking members having a first position to lie adjacent each other and block the opening, a pair of arms each supporting one of the blocking members in side-by-side relation, the third blocking member being offset from the side-by-side members, a housing pivotally mounting said arms for movement toward and away from each other, means pivotally mounting the housing on the frame beneath and to the side of the opening adjacent the third blocking member to carry the arms toward and away from the opening in an arcuate path,

cam means for moving the arms away from each other as the arms move away from the opening, means pivota1- ly mounted on the frame beneath and to the side of the opening adjacent the side-by-side blocking members mounting the third blocking member for pivotal movement in an arcuate path away from the opening and the other members to have all three members spaced apart to pass a ball therethrough when disposed beneath the opening, and means urging the blocking members to their closely adjacent positions in the opening and responsive to the weight of a ball to permit the members to move away from each other.

3. A bowling mechanism comprising, a pit conveyor for directing pins to a pin elevator, an opening in said conveyor of a size to permit a ball to pass therethrough for travel away from said conveyor and from any pins on the conveyor, and means blocking said opening and movable only in response to the presence of a ball to unblock said opening whereby a ball may pass through the opening comprising, a frame mounted beneath the pit conveyor, three blocking members having a first position to lie adjacent each other and block the opening, a pair of arms each supporting one of the blocking members in side-by-side relation, a housing pivotally mounting said arms for movement toward and away from each other, means pivotally mounting the housing on the frame to carry the arms toward and away from the opening, means for moving the arms away from each other as the arms move away from the opening, means mounting the third blocking member for movement away from the opening and the other members to have all three members spaced apart to pass a ball therethrough when disposed beneath the opening, and means urging the blocking members to their closely adjacent positions whereby the members closely follow a ball contour while closing.

4. A bowling mechanism comprising, a pin elevator, a vibrating pit conveyor having a central area lower than I the adjacent sections to the sides thereof, said central area also sloping downwardly toward the pin elevator, a ball discharge opening in the pit conveyor in said central area of a size to permit passage of a ball therethrough, a pit cushion overlying the pit conveyor and spaced therefrom a distance sufficient to permit passage of pins thereunder while blocking the passage of a ball, said pit cushion being located to the pin elevator side of said opening in a position to locate a ball above said opening, movable means for blocking said opening against passage of pins therethrough, and means yieldably mounting said movable means whereby the weight of a ball but not of a pin moves the blocking means to lower a ball through the opening.

5. A bowling mechanism comprising, a pin elevator, a

ball and pin pit conveying mechanism having a central area lower than the adjacent sections to the sides thereof, said central area also slop-ing downwardly toward the pin elevator, an opening in said central area of a size to permit passage of a ball therethrough for travel on a return tack, means overlying said central area and spaced therefrom a distance sutficient to permit passage of pins thereunder while blocking the passage of a ball, said means being located to the pin elevator side of said opening in a position to locate a ball above said opening, movable means for blocking said opening against passage of pins therethrough and movable to positions whereby a ball may pass through the opening. j

6. In a bowling alley, a generally horizontally disposed pit conveyor for a bowling ball and pins, means defining an opening in said conveyor of a size to permit passage of a ball therethrough for separation of a ball from any pins on the conveyor, a ball track having a ball of a size to permit passage of a ball therethrough for movement away from any pins on the conveyor, a ball track having a ball entry end beneath said opening, movable means for blocking said opening and responsive only to a ball thereon to clear the opening to permit passage of a ball therethrough, and means for locating a ball on said blocking means.

8. A bowling mechanism comprising, a pit conveyor for receiving a ball and pins from an alley and directing pins to a pin elevator, a ball discharge opening in said conveyor, means yieldably blocking said opening and re- References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,709,591 Parry May 31, 1955 2,765,172 Zuercher "Oct, 2, 1956 2,791,426 Ianes .a May 7, 1957 r 2,809,037 Montooth Oct. 8, 1957 

